Michael Grade

Michael Grade "became Chairman of the BBC on 17 May 2004. He was also Chairman designate of the BBC Trust. On 28 November 2006 he resigned as Chairman of the BBC with immediate effect in order to become Executive Chairman of ITV early in 2007.

"Michael Grade was born on 8 March 1943. He joined the Daily Mirror in 1960 as a sports journalist and, in 1966, went into the family theatrical agency. In 1973 he became an executive at London Weekend Television and in 1981 he went to Hollywood as President of Embassy Television.

"He returned to Britain in 1984 as Controller of BBC One, and in 1986 became Director of Programmes, then Managing Director, Television (Designate). In 1988 he went to Channel 4 as Chief Executive and remained in that post until 1997. On his departure, he joined First Leisure Corporation, leaving as Chief Executive in 2000.

"Since then Michael Grade has held several chairmanships and directorships, including positions on the boards of SMG plc and The Television Corporation.

"He was Chairman of the lottery operator, Camelot plc, from 2002 to 2004. Michael Grade remains non-executive Chairman of Pinewood Shepperton, holding the position since 2000. In October 2006 he became non-Executive Chairman of Ocado. He stepped down as role as non-executive Chairman of Hemscott plc in September 2006. He is a Director of Charlton Athletic football club.

"Outside broadcasting, Michael Grade chaired the Working Group on the Fear of Crime in 1989, and from 1994 to 1996 was a member of the National Commission of Inquiry into the Prevention of Child Abuse. He was Chairman of Index on Censorship from 2000 before resigning the post in April 2004.

"He was made a Fellow of the Royal Television Society in 1991 and a Fellow of Bafta in 1994. He became Vice-President of Bafta in June 2004. He holds an honorary professorship from Thames Valley University and an honorary LLD from Nottingham University."

His uncle was Boris Winogradsky.

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